Shoe shine apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for use in shining shoes, including a pair of power driven shoe brushing means rotatable about a common horizontal axis, with each shoe brushing means operatively associated with a shoe supporting means. Each of the shoe supporting means is mounted for power rotation about a vertically disposed axis and includes releasable retaining means for engaging the interior of a supported shoe. The shoe supporting means are detailed in location relative to the brushing means so that all polished surfaces of a pair of supported shoes are contacted during rotation of the brushing means and shoe supporting means. A single motor is operatively associated with the shoe brushing means and the shoe supporting means for automatically effecting simultaneous rotation thereof in a shoe shining operation. The shoe shining apparatus includes polish dispensing means operatively associated with each of the brushing means, with the polish dispensing means including cover means supported between the polish dispensing means and the shoe brushing means and selectively movable between closed and opened conditions to permit polish to be applied to shoes during rotation of the brushes.

United States Patent 1191 Jan. 29, 1974 Lasliley SHOE SHINE APPARATUS [76] Inventor: George D. Lashley, 3098 Old Norcross Rd., Tucker, Ga. 30084 [22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 297,877

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 224,117, Feb. 7,

Primary Exam iner-Edward L. Roberts [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for use in shining shoes, including a pair of power driven shoe brushing means rotatable about a common horizontal axis, with each shoe brushing means operatively associated with a shoe supporting means Each of the shoe supporting means is mounted for power rotation about a vertically disposed axis and includes releasable retaining means for engaging the interior of a supported shoe. The shoe supporting means are detailed in location relative to the brushing means so that all polished surfaces of a pair of supported shoes are contacted during rotation of the brushing means and shoe supporting means. A single motor is operatively associated with the shoe brushing means and the shoe supporting means for automatically effecting simultaneous rotation thereof in a shoe shining operation. The shoe shining apparatus includes polish dispensing means operatively associated with each of the brushing means, with the polish dispensing means including cover means'supported between the polish dispensing means and the shoe brushing means and selectively movable between closed and opened conditions to permit polish to be applied to shoes during rotation of the brushes.

12 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SHOE SHINE APPARATUS This application is a continuation-in-part of Applicants prior application, Ser. No. 224,1 17, filed Feb. 7, 1972, for Shoe Shine Apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a shoe shining apparatus and is more particularly concerned with a small compact apparatus which can be effectively utilized by an individual at home for simultaneously shining a pair of shoes.

The task of shining an individuals shoes at home has been commonly accomplished by manual effort, both in applying the polish to the shoes and buffing the shoes to a desired appearance.

There have been some attempts made to provide portable shoe buffing means which are power driven and operable for brushing a shoe. However, these portable shoe buffing means only include one or more brushes and do not include means for supporting a shoe relative to the brushes or for applying polish to the shoe. In these prior art shoe buffing machines, the individual must support the shoe being polished, either on the foot or support the shoe by hand, and manually rotate the shoe to a number of adjustd positions relative to the shoe brushing means to permit all of the polished surfaces to be adequately buffed in a shoe shining operation.

Further, the prior art shoe shine apparatus used in the home do not include automatic controlled polishing dispensing and time cyclic operating means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above disadvantages of the prior art have been overcome by the present invention which basically includes a small, compact, lightweight shoe shining apparatus having a pair of power driven shoe brushing means and a pair of power rotatable shoe supporting means, with one shoe supporting means being positioned adjacent each of the shoe brushing means and operable so that a supported shoe can be moved relative to the brushing means whereby all of the polished surfaces of the supported shoe can be brushed.

An important feature of the present invention includes polish dispensing means operatively associated with each of the shoe brushing means, with the polish dispensing means including cover means selectively movable between an open shoe polish dispensing position and a closed position, with a polish dispensing operation being controlled by timedcyclic control means automatically initiated in response to initiation of an automatic controlled timed cycle polishing operation.

It is therefore a'primary object of the present invention to provide a shoe shining apparatus which is simple in construction, compact in size, economical to manufacture, reliable in performance and automatic in operation.

Still other objects and advantages of the details of construction will become apparent after reading the following description of the illustrative embodiment with reference to the attached drawing wherein like reference numerals have been used to refer to like parts throughout the several figures, and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a shoe shining apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the control means utilized in the shoe shining apparatus as shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT cludes a supporting base 15 having a pillow block 16 supported adjacent an intermediate and rearwardly disposed portion of the upper supporting surface. Pillow block 16 is fixed to the supporting surface 15 by conventional bolt connecting means (not shown). A horizontally disposed brush supporting shaft 17 is supported in the pillow block and includes two oppositely extended ends. Shoe brush 11 is supported on one extended end of shaft 17 and shoe brush 12 is supported on an opposite end of shaft 17; Brushes ll, 12 are secured in a fixed position relative to shaft 17 by conventional bolt locking means 18.

Brushes ll, 12 are rotated clockwise, as shown in FIG. 1, by a conventional electric motor 20. Motor 20 is supported on base 15 directly in front of pillow block 16 and includes a power drive shaft 21 having a pulley 22 fixed thereto. Pulley 22 transfers drive by a belt 23 to a pulley 24 fixed to shaft 17. Motor 20 is supplied with power from a conventional supply line (not shown) and is controlled by a selectively operable control switch 25 located on the base 15 directly in front of motor 20. Control switch 25 will be described in more detail below.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the shoe supporting means 13, 14 includes an upstanding sleeve 26 which is fixed to the supporting base 15 directly forward and aligned with its associated brush. Extending upwardly through the sleeve 26 is a power driven shaft 27. Attached to the upper end of shaft 27 is a conventional shoe tree means constructed of an upwardly open channel member 28. Channel member 28 is fixed to rotatable shaft 27 in angularly disposed relationship relative to a horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. 3. One end of channel member'28 is provided with a heel abutting element 29, with the opposite end of member 28 being open to receive a U-shaped wire element having a base portion 30 with a pair of leg members 31, 32. The leg members 31, 32 include coaxially aligned outwardly extending ends which areselectively received in coaxially aligned openings 33 formed in channel member 28. Channel I member 28 includes a plurality of axially aligned openings 33 which will permit adjustment of the U-shaped wire element. The base portion of the U- shaped wire element is pivotally received within a bracket 34 attached to the underside of a toe engaging member 35. The toe engaging member 35 is of conventional construction and is adapted to fit within the toe portion of a shoe for forming the toe portion during a 1 shoe shining operation.

In operation, the toe portion 35 is pivotally adjusted relative to the fixed channel member 28 in a conventional manner, the toe portion 35 inserted within the shoe, with the interior of the shoe heel engaging heel element 29. The shoe is then adjusted downwardly so that the U-shaped wire element is returned to an over center locking engagement with the channel member 28, in a conventional manner.

The shoe supporting means 13, 14 are rotated in a clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 1, by rotation of the shafts 27. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower ends of shafts 27 are provided with pulleys 40. Drive is supplied to pulleys 40 by means of a belt 41 and a pulley drive element 42.

Pulley 42 is attached to the lower end of drive shaft 43. Drive shaft 43 extends upwardly through base and is supported within pillow block 16. The upper end of shaft 43 is providedwith a gear 44 supported for driving engagement with worm gear 45. Worm gear 45 is fixed to shaft 17, whereby rotation of shaft 17 will effect corresponding rotation of gear 44' and shaft 43.

As shown in FIG. 2, a compression spring 46 is located around shaft 43 between pulley 42 and the underside of base 15. Compression spring 46 is operable for spring biasing gear 44 into driving engagement with worm gear 45. The proper tension is maintained on drive belt 41 by means of idler pulley 47. Idler pulley 47 is rotatably supported by arm 48 which is pivotally mounted on the underside of base frame 15 for movement about a pivot support shaft 49. Tension spring 50 is operatively connected between arm 48 and fixed stud shaft 51 which is attached to the underside of base 15 for spring urging pulley 47 in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 2.

From the above description of the motor and drive means, it is apparent that the single motor will effect simultaneous rotation of brushes 1 1, 12 in a clockwise direction, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and will also effect simultaneous rotation of the shoe supporting means l3, 14 in a clockwise direction. The shoe supporting means are angularly aligned relative to each other so that the toe supporting and engaging means is aligned in the same direction whereby a pair of shoes can be supported and rotated adjacent each other about the vertical axes of shafts 27 without the toe of one shoe contacting the toe of the second shoe.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, polish dispensing means is operatively associated with each of the shoe brushes ll, 12. The polish dispensing means includes cavity portions 60, 61 which are formed in base 15 directly beneath each of the brushes ll, 12, respectively. Each cavity is provided with a quantity of shoe polish (not shown) which can be effectively applied to the surface of a shoe by movement of a brush into contact with the polish and with the brush thereafter moving into contact with a supported shoe for applyingthe polish to the surface of the shoe.

Each of the shoe polish cavity portions 60, 61 is provided with a cover 63, 64 supported between the upper surface of base 15 and its respective brush 11 or 12. Covers 63, 64 are fixed to shaft means 65, 66 which are pivotally supported in base '15 and are movable between a closed position overlying the cavity portions 60, 61 and an open position displaced from the cavity portions.

When the covers are in an opened position, the brushes ll, 12 will contact the shoe polish and will effectively remove predetermined amounts of the polish to be applied to a shoe supported on the ing means.

Covers 63, 64 are moved to an open shoe polish applying position by means of angular displacement of their respective pivot support shafts 65, 66. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower ends of shafts 65,66 are provided with lever arms 67, 68, respectively. Lever arm 67 is spring urged in a clockwise cover closed position by means of a tension spring 69. Lever arm 68 is spring urged counterclockwise to a cover closed position by a tension spring 70. Angular movement of lever arms 67, 68 for displacing covers 63, 64 to an open polish applying position is effected by means of elongated flexible connecting means 71, 72., such as nylon cord, which cords are connected at one end to lever arms 67 68 and are connected at their opposite end to reel shafts 73, 74. Rotary movement of reel shafts 73, 74 will effect a winding of connecting cords 71, 72 to thereby angularly displace lever arms 67, 68 against tension springs 69, and to effect movement of covers 63, 64 to the open polish applying positions.

The reel shafts 73, 74 are fixed to pulley means 75, 76 which are rotatably supported by conventional shaft support means (not shown)'in base 15 and are positioned adjacent drive belt 41. The pulleys 75,76 are detailed in location relative to belt 41 such that belt 41 does not normally effect rotation of pulleys 7 5, 76. Belt 41 is brought into driving engagement with pulleys 75, 76 by means of an actuator pulley 77 supported on lever arm 78. Movement of lever arm 78 for effecting driving engagement between belt 41 and pulleys 75,76 is controlled by energization of solenoid 79 which is connected by tension springmeans 80 to lever arm 78.

Solenoid 79 is energized by switch 81 which is operatively associated with a cam surface 82 formed on pulley 83. Pulley 83 is fixed to a lower end of shaft 25a, with an upper end of shaft 25a being fixed to control switch 25 such that rotary displacement of switch 25 will effect corresponding rotary displacement of pulley 83. Also operatively associated with cam surface 82 shoe supportand pulley 83 is a drive motor start switch 84. When switch 84 is operated through angular displacement of cam surface 82 by rotary movement of control switch 25, drive motor 20 will operate to effect rotary movement of brushes 11, 12 and drive belt 41 to thereby rotate pulleys 40 and shoe support means l3, l4.

Rotation of the pulley 40 associated with shoe support means l3, 14 will also rotate a pulley 86' which is operatively connected by a belt 87 to'pulley 83, so that when drive motor 20 effects rotation of the brushes 1 1, 12 and the shoe support means, the cam'surface 82 on switch control pulley 83 will also be rotated. Cam surface 82 is detailed -such that an initial rotary displacement of control switch 25 will position the cam surface 82 relative to switch 84 so as to start drive motor 20 and the drive to belt 41 and pulleys 40 will cause belt 87 to continue rotation of pulley -83 and cam surface 82. Carn surface 82 is detailed relative to switch 81 so that immediately after drive motor 20' has started, the cam surface 82 will cause switch 81 to close, thereby energizing solenoid 79 for effecting rotation of pulleys 75, 76 and angular displacement of the shoe polish covers 63, 64 to an open position as indicated above.

Cam 82 is detailed to allow solenoid 79 to be energized for a predetermined period oftime, which time is sufficient to allow the brushes ll, 12 to effectively apply polish to all portions of shoes supported on the shoe supporting means l3, 14. After the polish has been applied to the shoes, the cam surface 82 will open switch 81, thereby deenergizing solenoid 79 to allow springs 69, 70 to return covers 63, 64 to their closed positions. Cam surface 82 is also detailed to allow switch 84 to open after one cycleof rotation of pulley 83, which will in turn cause drive motor 20 to stop. The ratio of drive between pulleys 83 and 86 is such that pulleys 40 and shoe support means l3, 14 will make a plurality of cycles of rotation for one cycle rotation of pulley 83, with the number of cycles of rotation of the shoe support means l3, 14 being sufficient to apply polish and to effectively buff supported shoes.

In utilizing the shoe shining apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention, one of the shoe brushes and its associated polish dispensing means can be provided with one color polish and the other polish dispensing means provided with a second color polish. When two different color polishes are used, only one shoe of a pair will be polished at a time and the polish dispensing means associated with the second color will not be operated. As shown in FIG. 1, an interposer link 90 can be adjusted to one of the pivoted cover blocking positions, thereby preventing that cover from being moved to an open polish dispensing position. The frictional drive between belt 41 and pulleys 75, 76 will allow the pulley associated with the blocked cover to slip while link 90 is in the adjusted cover blocking position. When link 90 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, both of the covers 63, 64 will be allowed to open under cyclic control of pulley 83 and cam surface 82.

It now becomes apparent that the above described illustrative embodiment of a shoe shining apparatus is capable of obtaining the above stated objects and advantages. It is obvious that those skilled in the art may make modifications in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for use in shining shoes comprising, in combination:

a. shoe brushing means;

b. means for supporting a shoe in brushing contact with said shoe brushing means;

0. means for rotating said shoe brushing means;

d. means for rotating said shoe supporting means so that a supported shoe can be moved relative to said rotating brushing means whereby all portions of the polished surface of a supported shoe can be brushed by rotation of said brushing means; and

e. selectively operable control means operatively associated with said apparatusv and operable when initiated for automatically controlling a cyclic shoe shining operation.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said shoe brushing means and said shoe supporting means are rotated simultaneously.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that a single power drive means is operable for effecting simultaneous rotation of said shoe brushing means and said shoesupporting means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 further characterized in that said shoe brushing means is rotated about a substantially horizontal axis and said shoe supporting 7 means is rotated about a substantially vertical axis.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said shoe supporting means includes adjustable means for supporting different size shoes.

6. Apparatus as' defined in claim 5 further characterized in that said shoe supporting means includes releasable means for engaging the inside of a supported shoe,

wardly open channel member being open to receive the extended ends of a U'-shaped wire supporting element having the base portion thereof pivotally attached toa shoe toe engaging means, and wherein said upwardly open channel member is operable to permit adjustment of said toe engaging means relative to said heel engaging means. p

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that polish'dispensing means is operatively associated with said shoe brushing means for applying polish to said brush and to a supported shoe being polished. v

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 further characterized in that said polish dispensing meansincludes a selectively movable cover which is normally supported in a closed position disposed between said polish dispensing means and said shoe brushing means, with saidcover being movable to arr open position to permit said shoe brushing means to contact said polish dispensing means.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 further characterized in that said polish cover means includes cyclic control means operable for automatically moving said cover means to said open position and operable to permit said cover means to return to said closed position after a predetermined timed polish dispensing operation.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 further characterized in that said apparatus includes at least two shoe brushing means and at least two shoe supporting means for supporting and polishing a pair of shoes simultaneously, and wherein a single drive means is operatively associated with said at least two brushing means and said at least two shoe supporting means for effect ing rotation thereof.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 further characterized in that each .of'said shoe brusliing means includes polish dispensing means operatively associated therewith for applying polish to said rotating brush, and

wherein each of said polish dispensing means includes a cover means supported between said shoe polish dispensing means and said shoe polish brushing means, with control means operatively associated with said cover means so that said cover means can be selectively moved between said opened and closed position, indir vidually. 

1. Apparatus for use in shining shoes comprising, in combination: a. shoe brushing means; b. means for supporting a shoe in brushing contact with said shoe brushing means; c. means for rotating said shoe brushing means; d. means for rotating said shoe supporting means so that a supported shoe can be moved relative to said rotating brushing means whereby all portions of the polished surface of a supported shoe can be brushed by rotation of said brushing means; and e. selectively operable control means operatively associated with said apparatus and operable when initiated for automatically controlling a cyclic shoe shining operation.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said shoe brushing means and said shoe supporting means are rotated simultaneously.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that a single power drive means is operable for effecting simultaneous rotation of said shoe brushing means and said shoe supporting means.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 further characterized in that said shoe brushing means is rotated about a substantially horizontal axis and said shoe supporting means is rotated about a substantially vertical axis.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said shoe supporting means includes adjustable means for supporting different size shoes.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further characterized in that said shoe supporting means includes releasable means for engaging the inside of a supported shoe, with said releasable means being operable for contacting the interior of a supported shoe and operable for forming the surface of a shoe to be polished.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 further characterized in that said shoe supporting means includes a power driven vertically oriented support shaft having an upwardly open channel member fixed to said shaft and angularly disposed relative to the shaft axis, one end of said upwardly open channel member including a heel engaging means, with the other end of said upwardly open channel member being open to receive the extended ends of a U-shaped wire supporting element having the base portion thereof pivotally attached to a shoe toe engaging means, and wherein said upwardly open channel member is operable to permit adjustment of said toe engaging means relative to said heel engaging means.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that polish dispensing means is operatively associated with said shoe brushing means for applying polish to said brush and to a supported shoe being polished.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 further characterized in that said polish dispensing means includes a selectively movable cover which is normally supported in a closed position disposed between said polish dispensing means and said shoe brushing means, with said cover being movable to an open position to permit said shoe brushing means to contact said polish dispensing means.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 further characterized in that said polish cover means includes cyclic control means operable for automatically moving said cover means to said open position and operable to permit said cover means to return to said closed position after a predetermined timed polish dispensing operation.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 further characterized in that said apparatus includes at least two shoe brushing means and at least two shoe supporting means for supporting and polishing a pair of shoes simultaneously, and wherein a single drive means is operatively associated with said at least two brushing means and said at least two shoe supporting means for effecting rotation thereof.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 further characterized in that each of said shoe brushing means includes polish dispensing means operatively associated therewith for applying polish to said rotating brush, and wherein each of said polish dispensing means includes a cover means supported between said shoe polish dispensing means and said shoe polish brushing means, with control means operatively associated with said cover means so that said cover means can be selectively moved between said opened and closed position, individually. 